10 Facts CIOs Should Know About the New iPads

By Don Reisinger |
Posted 10-30-2012

10 Facts CIOs Should Know About the New iPads

1. The iPad Mini Is … MiniCIOs looking for a big tablet won’t want to go with the iPad Mini, which has a screen that measures just 7.9 inches. Apple pointed out that the iPad Mini’s screen delivers far more viewing real estate than the 7-inch options in the Google Nexus 7 and Amazon Kindle Fire.

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2. Lightning Is Here to StayApple made clear that its Lightning connector is here to stay. Announced last month in the iPhone 5, the port is coming to the fourth-generation iPad and the iPad Mini. Expect it to be available in future Apple mobile products.

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3. The iPad Mini Is ExpensiveIn the world of 7-inch tablets, prices typically reach $199 or at most, $249. The iPad Mini starts at $329 and rises to $429 and $529 for 32GB and 64GB of storage, respectively. Add an additional $130 to those prices for 4G LTE.

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4. That “New iPad” Isn’t New AnymoreRemember when the “New iPad” was unveiled in March? Well, it’s already been replaced by the fourth-generation iPad. That’s sure to annoy many folks who bought an iPad recently, thinking that it wouldn’t be replaced anytime soon.

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5. LTE Is Now EverywhereAlthough Apple took a long time to bring 4G LTE service to its mobile devices, the ultra-high-speed service is now running on its entire mobile line. The iPhone 5 got 4G LTE last month, and the fourth-generation iPad and iPad Mini will ship with it next month. It’s about time Apple embraces that technology.

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6. No Software Updates Till Next YearCIOs who like iOS 6 will be happy to hear that both of the iPads will ship with that software. Those hoping for some improvements to the software won’t find it here. The new iPads run the same version of iOS 6 a found in Apple’s mobile devices.

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7. The Fourth-Generation is PowerfulAccording to Apple, the fourth-generation iPad comes with the A6X processor, which will double the processing power and graphics prowess of its predecessor. The device also comes with the Lightning connector.

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8. Consumers FirstIf there was anything that Apple proved at its Oct. 23 event, it’s that the company is still heavily invested in consumers. From the iPad Mini commercial to much of Apple’s discussion, consumer appeal took center stage. Keep that in mind.

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9. The LTE Versions Will Be Shipping LateCIOs hoping to get their employees’ hands on the 4G LTE iPad or iPad Mini will have to wait. According to Apple, the WiFi-only models will ship on November 2. They will be followed the LTE-equipped tablets a “couple of weeks later.”

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10. There’s No Predicting Apple’s Launch CycleIn the past, Apple launched a new iPhone and iPad every year. Although it seems to be keeping with that schedule on the iPhone, it launched two iPads this year. For consumers, that’s fine, but for CIOs that have product road maps and are concerned with obsolescence, it’s a problem.